Even after being limited to reserve duty in last weekend’s win over Philadelphia, and sitting out Wednesday’s rout of Houston altogether, Tim Cahill could feel the Red Bulls’ momentum gathering. Now, his hamstring is better — and so is his team, snapping its early-season malaise and looking for a third straight win Saturday in Columbus (7 p.m., MSG).

“Three weeks ago I said someone was going to be on the end of a spanking and that’s what happened to Houston,’’ said Cahill, who is unlikely to start. “Now it’s all about confidence. The boys believe in themselves and I feel that a situation where everyone was panicking a little and asking questions has suddenly turned on its head, and now we’re pretty relaxed and enjoying the season.’’

They certainly enjoyed themselves Wednesday, striker Bradley Wright-Phillips notching a hat trick and putting a 4-0 spanking on a Houston team that had upset them in last year’s playoffs. The Red Bulls (2-2-4, 10 points) vaulted to third place in the Eastern Conference, a point behind co-leaders Columbus and Sporting Kansas City.

Still, Cahill will likely come off the bench. And captain Thierry Henry cautioned the Red Bulls still gave up two good chances Wednesday, and couldn’t take anything for granted against a Crew team that plays out from the back and passes the ball through the lines, led by Federico Higuain, who is third in MLS with four goals.

“He’s a great player, we know that. If you let him play he can do what he did against us last year when we lost there two-nil,’’ Henry said. “Not only him. They have some good players around him too. But you know, they’re on a high. We’re going to try to go out there and have a decent game.’’